SUMMER 2013 BEER EVENTS

With a flood of festivals, San Diego’s love of craft beer reaches fever pitch

Q: What do you get when you mix California history, baseball, sushi and bacon?

A: San Diego’s summer lineup of beer festivals.

Beer is a year-round passion here, yet our romance with ales and lagers reaches a white-hot peak in summer. As the mercury climbs, so does the number of beer festivals. The season’s bubbliest, most refreshing, brews-worthy events:

13: Christmas in July! Bring to Lost Abbey/Port Brewing an unwrapped toy, worth at least $15, or a $15 donation to Toys for Tots — then exchange your gift for something from the brewers. Santa, is that a rare bottle? 11 a.m. Where: 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos.

27: The first of two Del Mar Beer Fests at the Races, this maiden outing focuses on San Diego breweries. 1 p.m.﻿ Admission included with entrance to the races. Where: Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar.

AUGUST

3: BrewFest Encinitas promises to be educational. First, the 4 p.m. event will be on Mira Costa College’s San Elijo campus. Next, VIP guests ($75) will meet Jeff Bagby, the county’s most award-winning brewer. General admission $40, includes 10 beer samples. Where: 3333 Manchester Ave., Cardiff. Tickets: Available from June 1 at